THIRTEEN years after much-needed upgrades were first approved, the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court is yet to receive a facelift – posing a health and safety hazard to all.
Practising attorney and Sarah Baartman District Municipality DA Councillor, Henni Britz, says, the lack of progress is placing the lives of magistrates, prosecutors, witnesses and members of the public in grave danger.
“Major concerns include the lack of security measures, the presence of dangerous weapons on site and easy access to the magistrate chambers,” he says.
“Furthermore, the toilets shared between the public and a senior magistrate are out of order, and inter-leading gates next to holding cells are unlocked.
“Small holding cells with wooden doors are home to up to 40 suspects at a time, and the conditions are inhumane – there is only one open toilet that does not always work.”
He continues that members of the public have to wait in the corridors outside the offices of magistrates and prosecutors. Where there are no corridors, they have to wait outside – no matter the weather: wind, sunshine or rain.
Although separate from the main court rooms, there is no safe and private area designated for children who need to testify. The specific room used, is shared with the senior prosecutor when interviews need to be done.
There is also no recorder to record interviews.
The office of the family planning officer can only accommodate three people at a time – which is not an ideal situation.
Also of concern is the boxes of paperwork kept in an abandoned building that are being destroyed by damp, as well as the lack of a general filing system due to limited space.
The building is also not disability friendly and wheelchair-bound residents need to be carried up the stairs to the entrance of the court building.
“I am aware that the Department of Public Works has made commitments regarding the upgrade of this court, yet nothing has transpired in nearly 14 years,” says Britz. “An immediate solution to the major security concerns is the erection of a strong perimeter fence with access control. This can be effected immediately, while the upgrade of the precinct is part of a longer term solution.”
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development is yet to confirm availability of funding for the multi-million Rand project in the future.
